2023-11-30 06:00:03
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at Hawaii
12/3/2023 | 9:00 P.M. (CT)
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Dec. 03 (Sun) / 9:00 P.M. (CT)
at Hawaii
History
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Despite a strong start to the second half, the Central Arkansas men’s basketball team mightn’t hold on as the Bears fell 90-63 on Wednesday. Three Bears scored in double-figures in the loss.
Central Arkansas (1-8) were led by freshman Tucker Anderson, who hit a career-high five triples on his way to 17 points. Johannes Kirsipuu and Elias Cato each added 15, with Cato logging a double-double with ten rebounds.
LMU came out swinging, scoring the first seven points, with the Bears getting on the board with a layup from Glory Etim. The teams went back and forth trading baskets, as Central Arkansas whittled the lead down to three multiple times in the half. Kirsipuu cut it to one on a layup with nine minutes left in the half, but a quick response by the Lions kept the Bears from getting over the hump. Anderson would finally give Central Arkansas its first lead of the day following scoring five points on consecutive possessions, scoring down low before splashing his third three-pointer on the next possession. The lead would grow as large as three on a Masai Olowokere triple, but the shot-making of LMU allowed the Lions to hang around, eventually reclaiming the lead just before half, heading into the break up 36-31.
Anderson and Cato had 20 of the Bears’ 31 points at the midway point, combining to shoot 8-of-12 from the field and 4-of-6 from distance. Etim had seven first half rebounds, and the Bears seemed poised to make a leap in the second half.
And the Bears would do just that, opening the second on a 9-0 run to take a four-point lead, a haymaker that was capped by yet another three-pointer from Anderson. The Bears would battle and hold the lead for the next several minutes, but surrendered the lead on a crucial 19-0 run by the Lions. Kirsipuu ended the run with a pair of free throws on the fast break, but the damage had been done. Despite locking up the interior, the three-point shooting of the Lions was tough to overcome.
Kirsipuu had 11 points in the second half, and Cato added six points and six boards to secure his second double-double of the year. Etim finished off his third game of double-digit rebounds, adding two blocks and two steals, marking back-to-back games with multiple steals and blocks.
Central Arkansas remains out west, going even further for the next game, heading out to Hawaii to face off with the Rainbow Warriors on Sunday. Tip-off is scheduled for 9 p.m. CT.
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